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UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
RÍO PIEDRAS CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Title: Laboratory for Physics II
Code: FISI 3174 section OU1
Number of Credits: 1
Co-requisite: FISI 3172 (Physics II)
Description
Laboratory course that provides experimental activities relevant to the Physics II course (PHYS
3172). The experiments are designed to be exploratory activities where the students learn from
doing and observing, as opposed to following a recipe. Computers are employed for data
collection, analysis, and report preparation.
Objectives
Through this laboratory course, the students will:
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operate and handle laboratory equipment properly
apply safety precautions and procedures applicable to experiments
use computers in the collection and analysis of experimental data
identify the variables and constants in a problem situation
make reasonable predictions or formulate hypotheses regarding the probable outcome of
an experiment.
use various techniques of graphical analysis to investigate the relationship between
experimental variables
plan and work in an organized and systematic fashion
recognize the best way of collecting, recording, representing data and analyzing results.
employ and discuss the concepts of experimental error, uncertainty, accuracy,
discrepancy, random error, systematic error, reliability, percent error, etc.
draw proper conclusions based on direct experimental evidence; to assess the range of
validity of results and to show the correlation of experiment to theory.
carry out experiments with minimal instruction
write a clear, informative, and logical scientific reports.
develop a laboratory experience and write a suitable manual for it
give a practical/oral presentation of an independent lab project
(syllabus continuation: Laboratory for Physics II, PHYS 3174)
Course Content
Week 1: Safety rules and introduction the lab equipment and computers
Week 2: The Battery
Week 3: Electric field and voltage
Week 4: Ohm´s law, resistors in parallel and series
Week 5: Kirchhoff´s law
Week 6: Magnetic field
Week 7: RC and RLC circuits
Week 8: Geometrical optics
Week 9: reflection and refraction
Week 10: Double Slit experiment and Interference
Week 11: Diffraction
Week 12: Exam
Instructional Strategies
The experiments are designed to be exploratory activities where the students learn from doing
and observing, as opposed to following a recipe. Laboratory reports are handed in at the end of
each laboratory experience. Computers are employed as much as possible for data collection,
analysis, and report preparation.
Minimum Required Facilities
Laboratory room, computers, printer, interfaces, sensors, and laboratory equipment.
Student Evaluation
Ten laboratory reports count 8% each, for a 80%. The other 20% is given for final exam.
Grading System
The overall score is determined by calculating the percentage of points obtained by the student,
based on 80% lab reports and 20% exam grades. Grades are then assigned according to the
standard curve: 100-90% = A, 89-80% = B, 79-70% = C, 69-60% = D, 59-0% = F.
Bibliography
1. Physics for Scientists & Engineers (volume I), Douglas C. Giancoli, Prentice Hall,
2008
Either 3rd of 4th edition(ISBN 0-13-227358-6) is the required text.
2. Fundamentals of Physics, David Halliday, Robert Resnick, Jearl Walker, Wiley, 2002
3. Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Raymond A. Serway, Saunders Publishing, 2002
Rights of Students with Disabilities
UPR complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including
the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 (ADA) and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Law 51. Students receiving services through Rehabilitación Vocacional must contact the
professor at the beginning of the semester in order to plan for a reasonable accommodation and
any required support equipment according to the recommendations given by the Oficina de
Asuntos para las Personas con Impedimentos (OAPI) of the Dean of Students. Likewise, students
with special needs that require some type of accommodation must contact the professor.